With Roy’s announcement of the initial 26 man squad on Monday the feeling that we’re entering into tournament territory, or frenzy, is in the air. The Premier League is over, Leicester deservedly taking the prize, the FA Cup and Champions League finals still to be played, but on Sunday the 3 Lions run out at Wembley to face the first of 3 opponents in their final preparations for Euro 2016.
The surprise, or maybe not, in the extended squad was the inclusion of Man Utd’s wonder Marcus Ashford and the criticism the lack of centre halfs picked by Roy.
This England squad looks like it has goals in it, but it also looks like it can concede them, even with the safest pair of English hands available. With Rashford scoring 7 in 16 appearances for United, and Kane and Vardy being the Premier League top scorers, the ‘weaker’ of the 5 selections on current form are Sturridge and captain Rooney.
So, as usual, it’ll likely be another roller coaster ride for England in this years Euro 2016.
First however, we have Turkey (22/5), Australia (27/5) and Portugal (2/6) to test the 3 Lions and Roy has to submit the final 23 names by the end of May.
Turkey, the opponents on Sunday have never beaten England, in fact have never scored against England, with a couple of 8-0 victories. However Turkey have developed as a footballing national over later years, and our last meeting in 2003 was a 0-0 draw.
What will be interesting over the remaning 21 days (yes, only 3 weeks to go) is to see how the 3 Lions develop as a team before the big test comes. We start the final tournament as the only team to have a 100% record from the qualification phase, however we didn’t have the hardest group.
So, to Sunday, England to maintain their record against Turkey, 2-0, maybe even with Rashford strengthening his bid for a place in the final 23.
Jesper
Rod
3 Lions Abroad 